Thermal circuit-closer



w. P. WEBB THERMAL CIRCUIT R. PLICATION FILED MAY29, I919.

Patented June 15, 1920. l 9.13.

A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM PINCKNEY XVEBBER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

THERMAL cmonrr-eizosnn.

To all whom it may camera.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. Vnnrsnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented a new and limprovedThermal Circuit- Closer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. i

This invention relates to an automatic heat controlled fire alarm device.

One of the general objects of this invention is to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction, which when subject ed .to a predetermined temperature, will cause a suitable alarm circuit to be established to indicate the existence of fire or excessive heat. 1 v

More specifically, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a heat-controlled fire alarm device which may be conveniently held either in a vertical, horizontal or any intermediate position, such for example as on a ceiling or side wall, so that said device will be responsive to apredetermined increase of temperature either within a room or between the walls or ceiling and partitions, to cause an electric circuit to be completed. V i

A further object is to providea heat-controlled fire alarm device having but few parts'so constructed and arranged that they are inclosed, being thus protected from dirt and accidental injury, but are readily accessible for inspection or renewal of parts when required.

i The above objects are accomplished by providing a casing adapted to be suitably positioned in a wall, ceiling or other desired place and having a relatively good heatconducting material extending from each end of the casing so as to be subject 'to a change of temperature at these places. Within the casing there are members which are held in an elevated position against gravity by preferably a metal composition which will melt at a relatively low predetermined temperature, these members being so arranged that if there is excessive heat on either side of the wall, the metal composition willbe melted, thus permitting the elevated member to move and complete an electric alarm circuit.

More specifically in the preferred construction, there is provided a metal casing open to the rear and having an insulated Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11 15 192() Application filed May 29, 1919. Serial NO. 300,527. 7

metal cap at the front thereof, said part being preferably depressed to offer greater exposed surface, the inner side of said cap being coated with a composition metal having a low melting point, there being further provideda ball, also coated with the composition'metal, which is held in an elevated position on the inner surface of the cap. A metalcone also coated on its inner surface with the composition metal is inserted within the casing withthe apex extending rearward of the casing, and the enlarged part or base of the cone surrounding but insulated from the depressed portion of the cap. A metal composition-covered ball is also held in the end of the cone on an inclined surface. Terminals are taken to an electric circuit from the cap and easing respectively so that if the temperature at either end of the device is high enough to melt the metal composition, the ball will descend, thus completing the alarm circuit between the cap and casin Other oijects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. Similar characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

In the drawings showing one of the preferredforms of the invention Figure 1 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the device positioned in a wall, shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows and taken on the line -fl of Fig. 2.-

Fig. 5 is a modification of the invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cone. In the drawings showing one of the preferred forms of this invention, the main body of the device comprises a metal casing 1 preferably cylindrical in form, open at the forward part thereof, the rear part being restricted and terminating in an open-ended tube. The restricted portion of the casing forms an annular ring or shoulder 4, which forms a suitable seat when the said casing is positioned on a wall, ceiling or other sup port 5. It is understood that, when so positioned, the tube 3 will extend through a suitable opening 6 in the wall or other support 5.. Y

As a means of positioning the casing 1, there are provided, preferably integral therewith, flanges 7 thrdugh which screws 8 or other suitable means may pass to posi tion the casing. A projecting ear portion 1) oi. the casing serves as one terminal for an electric circuit to which a conductor ll) may be connected. A cone member 11, made preferably of metal, is posit-ioneo within the using 1 and tube 3, the forward or base part of said cone being of substantially the anie form as the forward end of the casing l, the apex or rear end of said cone being cut away, and the taper of the cone being such that the apex end of said cone extends inwardly oi: the tube 3, the forward end 12 oi? the tube serving as a seat or support for the cone member.

It is to be noted that the cone is irei"erably made oi a metal which is a relatively good conductor or" heat, such as copper, and is in contact with the casing l and tube 2?, thus serving as electric and heat conductor.

An insulator 13 of any suitable material is provided, which serves normally to hold a cap i l, covering the forward part o'l the casing 1, out of electrical contact therewith, The insulator 13 has a shoulder 13 atthe lront thereof, which extends around the forward part of the casing and prevents the cone or the casing from coming in contact with the cap 14. In order to afford a relatively large exposed surface, which will be subject to a change in tem' iierature, the front oi the cap is pressed inwardly tonine "bstautially a hemisphere 15, but is uir, I stood that any other suitable used for this. purpose.

There is provided for the cap Li a projecting ear portion 16, which serves as a terminal to which a conductor 17 may be fastened by any suitable means. It is thus seen that if the terminals of an electric circuit, comprising a source of current 18, an indicating or alarm device 19, is connected by suitable conductors to the terminals 16 and 9 of the cap M- and casing l respecti rely, the said circuit may be completed by an electrical connection between the terminals 16 and 9.

In the preferred form sh-zwrn, there is provided a means to establish said circuit, sa means being heat-controlled to auton'iatscally establish the circuit when a pre determined ten'iperatuii'e is reached on either side of the device, the preferred form herein nprising' a metal. ball 20, which is posied at the smaller end of the cone prel "y by having connected therewith by a ile. metal COil'lPOSilllOil connection 25, which will melt at a relatively low tempera ture, a rod 2]. composed of a relatively good liezit-conducting material, such as copper, which extends rearwardly of t 1e cone and projects through the opening in the apex thereof, the rod preferably having a twist or turn 22 therein, which contacts with the open end ot the cone and serves to hold the ball 20 in an elevated position. The said rod extends rearwardly of the partition 5 the desired distance so as to expose a rela tively large surface and to be subject to an increase of tem 'ierature. It is thus seen that it the rod 21 is subject to relatively high tGIDPGIiLtUIG, the heat will be conducted through the rod 21 to the point at which it connected to the ball 2!), and it the tem perature is high enough, the composition holding the metal ball 20 in an elevated position will melt and permit the ball 2U to descend and complete the circuit through the terminals 16 and 9 oi the ca p i l and casing 1 respectively, thus automatically establishing the alarm circuit.

is an additional carrier oi heat in order to make the device more sensitive, there provided at the rear end of the tube 3 another metal cylindrical tube 23 in contact with and extending in the said tube, there being connected with said tube 23 a coil of wire preferably of copper, which extends rearwardly, the said coil. aflording an h1- creased surface which will be subject to an increase in temperature between the walls and will conduct the heat therefrom back to the casing 1 and assist in melting the composition metal connection 25 holding the ball in an elevated position when the proper tcmperature has been reached.

An opening 28 is provided. in the front 15 of the cap 14, through which extends a metal rod 26, one end. of said rod extending through the cap and having connected thereto another ball 27 by the metal composition soldered connection 25, this connection being similar to the connection between the rod 21 and ball 20 at the smaller end of the cone. The ball 27 is held in an elevated position so that if the composition connection is melted, the ball 27 will descend and complete the electric circuit between the terminals. In the preferred construction shown, a bar 29 is positioned across the forward portion of the cap and has an opening therein, through which extends the wire rod 26, the said bar merely functioning to hold the rod 26 in proper position. i

If desired, the inner surface of the cone, the inner surface of the front cap and the surface of the metal balls may be coated with a film 25' of composition metal or solder having a relatively low melting point. One of the advantages in coating the above-mentioned surfaces with the composition metal or solder is that such surfaces are protected from oxidation and when they are subjected to such a temperature as will cause them to melt, there will be exposed a bright unoxidized surface which will form a relatively good electrical conductor. An additional advantage in having the parts positioned as shown is that the melted metal will flow downward on the surface of thecone and assist in making an electrical contact between the cone 11, which is in electrical contact with the casing 1, and the cap ll. It is thus seen that if the temperature on either side of the partition or wall 5 is high enough, the heat will be conducted to either one of the balls 27 or 20 by the heat conductors 26 or 21 respectively and will'cause the soldered connection to be melted, thus permitting the balls to descend and establish an alarm circuit.

It is to be noted that when the cap and cone surfaces have been coated with the composition metal or solder, which melts at a relatively low temperature, that as a relatively large surface of the respective parts is exposed,the film carriedthereon will also melt, and even though the balls themselves did not descend, the melted solder or composition would descend to the lower corner of the device and establish theelectric circuit between the cap and casing. It is to be' understood that either one or both of the methods may be used.

In order to have the'device function, it is only necessary to have enough of the composition metal or solder to hold the ball members in an elevated position.

There is shown in Fig. 5 a modified construction in which the tubes 3 and 23 and the wire coil 2e are eliminated. In such a construction, the heat is conducted to the ball members 27 and 20 respectively through the rod members 26 and 21 and the capfront l5 and cone 11 respectively.

It isthus seen there is herein provided a simple and compact construction which functions automatically upon increase of temperature to establish an alarm circuit when an excessive temperature exists upon either side of a partition "member.

While but one preferred form of this invention has herein been shown, certain changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. s

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desireto obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing open at one end, a cap to cover said open end, an insulator between said cap and casing, a ball member, a connection between said ball member and said cap, said connection including a metal of relatively low melting point, which holds said ball in an elevated position and another ball member, and a cone, said ball member being held in an elevated position within the cone by a metal connection which melts at a relatively low temperature.

2. A thermal circuit closer, adapted to be positioned in a support to be responsive to a temperature change oneither-side of said support, said device comprising a casing a cap insulated in one end thereof and means within the casing normally held in an elevated position by a connection between said casing and said means, said connection including a metal composition having a relatively low melting point, whereby when the composition is melted the said means will gravitate downwardand establish an elec trical connection between said cap and. said casing.

3. In a device of the character described, a metal cylindrical casing open at one end and having at the other end thereof a re stricted portion forming an annular ring, a hollow metal cone having the base thereof in contact with the open end of said casing and the apex thereof extending through the restricted portion of said casing, a cap for the open end of said casing, an insulator between said casing and said cap, a ball within and spaced from said cone and a connection between said cap and saidball normally holding said ball in an elevated position, said connection including a metal compo sition having a relatively low melting point.

4. A thermal circuit closer comprising a cylindrical casing open at one end, a'hollow' metal cone having'the base thereof in contact with said casing, a cap for said casing,

an insulator between said casing and said cap, the front of said casing being hemispherical in shape and extending within the base of the cone member, a member spaced from said cone and connected with the hemispherical portion of said cap by a metal composition having a low melting point and anthe front of said casing being hemispherical in shape and extending within the base of the cone member,'a member spaced from said cone and connected with the hemispherical portion of said cap by a metal com position having a low melting point, another ball spaced from said cap and connected to said cone by a metal composition having a relatively low melting point, a rod consisting of a relatively good heat conductor connected with said member spaced from the cone, said rod extending outwardly therefrom, and another rod consisting of a relatively good heat conductor connected with the other member spaced from said cap, said 1ast-named rod extending outside of said cone. 6. In a device of the character described, a, metal casing, a hollow cone adapted to be positioned within said casing and. to be in contact therewith, a cap for one end of said casing, said cap having a depressed portion, an insulator between said cap and said cas ing, the depressed portion of said cap be ing within said casing when positioned, a film coating for the inner surface of said cone, said coating consisting of a metal composition having a relatively low melting point, a similar coating for one side of the depressed portion of said cap, a ball spaced from said cone and connected with said cap by said composition metal and another ball spaced from said cap and connected to said. cone by the metal composition coating on said cone.

7. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a member having an inclined surface, in contact with said casing, another member positioned adjacent said casing, an electric insulator between said members, a plurality of weighted members held in an elevated position, one of said members being connected to the inclined member by a fusible material and another weighted member being connected to the other member spaced from said inclined member by a fusible material, said weighted members being arranged so that when the fusible material melts, either one of the weighted members will descend and establish an electric circuit between the inclined member and the adjacent member spaced therefrom.

8. A thermal circuit closer adapted to be responsive to a predetermined increase in temperature on either side of a support, said device comprising a casing, and a member having an inclined surface in electrical contact with said casing, a cap insulated from said casing, and a plurality of members one of each being connected to the cap and inclined surface respectively by a metal com position having a relatively low melting point, and terminal connections with said cap and easing respectively, whereby the said device may be held in one of two vertical positions or a horizontal position and upon melting of any one of the connections, the said member will by gravity descend and establish an electrical circuit between the said terminals.

WVILLIAM PINGKNEY XVEBBER. 

